Separable fastener



June 26, 1951 MADSEN 2,558,367

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AAAAA EY Patented June 26, 1951 SEPARABLE FASTENER Borge Madsen,Copenhagen, Denmarin assignor, by mesne assignments, to Flexico (U. S.A.)

h Africa, a corporation of S. A., Tangier, Nort Tangier ApplicationDecember 14, 1949, Serial No. 132,891 In Denmark December 23, 1948 8Claims. (Cl. 24-201) This invention relates to fasteners for garments,or the like, for joining two pieces of garment along their adjacentedges. It has previously been proposed to provide fasteners of this kindby means of a pair of continuous strips of elastic or flexible materialadapted to be made in a continuous operation. Fasteners of this kindcomprise one part which is provided with a rim or projection along theedge adjacent the other part and a second part which is provided with agroove or slot corresponding to the said projection in thefirstmentioned part.

All attempts to make a reliable and efficient fastener of this kind haveso far failed owing to the fact that the two parts have a tendency tobecome disengaged when subjected to a pull tending to separate the twoparts of the garment to which the fastener is attached.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved fastenerhaving two continuous inter-engageable strips, whereby a firm grip isobtained so that the two strips are held tightly together.

It is another object of the present invention to increase theflexibility of the two strips constituting the fastener, so as to permitbending of the fastener in a lengthwise direction without riskingdisengagement of the two components.

The present invention comprises in combination two flat stripsconsisting of resilient material and having overlapping edge portions,and a groove and a ridge arranged in each of the edge portions of thestrips substantially at right angles to the planes of the strips,respectively, the groove in one of the strips corresponding in shape tothe ridge in the other of the strips andvice versa, whereby the stripscan be fastened to, or separated from each other by a pressure or apull, respectively, acting substantially at right angles to the planesof the strips.

In an embodiment of the present invention each of the overlapping edgeportions has a substantially S-shaped cross section having the axes ofits bends substantially at right angles to the planes of said strips.

In a preferred embodiment of this invention means for increasing thefriction between the edge portions are provided. These means includepreferably a plurality of small grooves arranged in each of the edgeportions in the longitudinal direction thereof, the grooves in one ofthe edge portions being adapted to engage the grooves in i longitudinaldirection thereof when the strips are fastened to each other.

Preferably the edge portions are designed as reinforcements havingsubstantially S-shaped cross sections.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention each edgeportion is provided with two ridges and two grooves substantially atright angles to the planes of strips, respectively. the grooves in oneof the strips corresponding in shape to the ridges in the otherof thestrips and vice versa.

Preferably the reinforcements of the edge portions carrying the groovesand ridges form, when engaged with each other, a body having anelongated preferably an elliptical cross section, the planes of thestrips being displaced in relation to each other. Preferablyindentations are provided in the strips separating the bulk of thestrips from the reinforcements.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for. theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanyin drawings, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a cross section of a fastener according to an embodiment of myinvention;

Fig. 2 is a cross section of a fastener according to a secondembodiment; and

Fig. 3 is a cross section of a fastener according to a third embodiment.

Referring to the drawings, I and 2 are the two components of thefastener adapted to be engaged. Each of these components comprises,according to the invention, a ridge and a groove, the groove in thecomponent I being designated by 3, and the ridge in this component by 4.The ridge on component 2 is designated by 6, and the groove therein by5. Both components are made of a strip or band of a flexible or elasticmaterial such as, for example, a thermoplastic or a thermosettinmaterial, e. g. a polyvinyl-chloride or poly-ethylene.

In the embodiments illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the profiles of the twostrips l and 2 are identical, and these strips may consequently beextruded by means of one tool, having a cross section corresponding toparts I, 3, I, ll of strip I and 5, i, 8, 12 of strip 2, respectively.Each of the strips is in the form of a clamp having two jaws, one

of which is the ridge 4 or 6, the other jaw being the projection or rimI I or I2.

It will be observed that in the closed position of the fastenerillustrated in Fig. 1, the distance between the two jaws is somewhatsmaller than the maximum width of the corresponding ridges 4, 6 andgrooves 3, 5, thereby insuring a firm grip which tends to hold the twostrips closely together. The fastening effect of the strips I, 2illustrated in Fig. 1 depends chiefly on the stiffness of the two ridges4 and 6-, and on the friction between the adjacent surfaces thereof.

The friction may be increased by providing friction means on the saidsurfaces, illustrated at I3 in the embodiment shown in Fig. 2. As shownin Fig. 2, the groves 3 and 5 are somewhat wider than the correspondingridges 6 and 4, which provides for a displacement in a lengthwisedirection, when the garment to which the fastener is attached is bentthereby preventing the two strips from being disengaged from one anotherwhen exposed to such bending.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3, each of the two componentscomprises a flat strip I and 2, respectively, of a flexible, resilientthermoplastic material, such as polyvinyl-chloride or the like, and eachstrip is provided with a reinforcement 1 and 8, respectively, the crosssections of which are identical in shape, so that only one mould isrequired for producing the two components I, I and 2, 8, respectively,when extruding the same from a thermO-plastic material of the kindreferred to.

Each of the two reinforcements 'I and 8 comprises two continuous grooves3, 3a and 5, 5a, respectively, and is further provided with twocontinuous solid ridges 4, 4a and 6, 6a, respectively. Friction means,such as small longitudinal grooves I 3 are provided between the ridges4a and 6 and between the ridges 4 and 6a, respectively. Adjacent each ofthe reinforcements I and 8 the two components are provided with acontraction I4 and I5, formed by indentations in the body constitutingthe components intermediate the reinforcements I, B and theircorresponding strips I, 2, respectively. The planes of the two strips Iand 2 are displaced with relation to one another as indicated by thedotted line I6. This provides for a hinge action when a pull tending toseparate the two components is exerted on the two strips I and 2. Thus,the planes of the two strips, when subjected to a pull, will tend torotate in such a manner that the two reinforcements will be pressed morefirmly together, thereby counteracting any tendency of the ridges tobecome disengaged from their corresponding grooves. It will be realizedthat the torque exerted on the two inter-engageable reinforcements, whenpulling thestrips I and 2 away from one another, will depend on thedistance between the planes of the two components I and 2.

The use of two or more inter-engageable grooves and ridges in eachcomponent will provide for a considerable increase of the grip betweenthe two components owing to the fact that the two ridges will cooperatein such a manner that they will offer a considerable resistance againstseparation of the components. This resistance to separation by a pull inopposite directions along the planes of the strips I and 2 is enhancedby the particular shape and arrangement of the ridges and grooves. Thehead portion of each ridge is enlarged and the neck portion of eachridge is constricted to form an adjacent complementary groove in thesame strip as the ridge, the groove therefore having a restrictedopening thereinto and an enlarged bottom portion. In Figs. 2 and 3, eachridge is formed with an undercut surface I3 joining the head and neckportions of the ridge and providing an overhanging portion facing ineach instace toward the plane portion of thestrip I or 2 with which theparticular ridge is integrally formed. It is these undercut surfaces I3that are provided with friction means in the form of small longitudinalgrooves, or serration, and that serve to resist separation when a. pullis applied in opposite directions along the planes of the plane stripportions I or 2. As shown in Fig. 3 the undercut surfaces lie betweenthe planes of the strip portions I and 2. Also, in each of theembodiments of my invention, a plane joining the planes of the webportions I and 2 at their junction with their respective reinforced edgeportions passes through each of the inter-engaged ridges so that a pullin opposite directions along the planes of the web portions tends tocause the ridges to interengage more firmly than would be the case if acomponent of the pulling force acted along the height axes of theridges, as in the prior art structures. It will also be noted that ineach of the embodiments of my invention, the median plane of each webportion I or 2 passes through each of the ridges with which such webportion is integrally formed and, in fact, passes through each suchridge outwardly of its most constricted neck portion. Thus, laterallyapplied forces in the planes of the web portions I and 2 acting inopposite directions, pass through the head portions, respectively,formed integrally with said web portions and tend, in conjunction withthe undercut surfaces I3, to interengage said head portions all the morefirmly. It will further be realized that the elongated shape of the tworeinforcements I and 8 which when fastened together as shown in thedrawing, preferably form an ellipse, will tend to increase the moment ofinertia of the body I, 8 formed by the two reinforcements, whereby theflexibility of the fastener in a lengthwise direction will besubstantially increased.

- It will be understood that each of the elements described above, ortwo or more together, may also find a useful application in other typesof fasteners differing from the types described above.

While I have illustrated and described the invention as embodied in afastener comprising flat strips consisting of resilient material, I donot intend to be limited to the details shown, since variousmodifications and structural changes may be made without departing inany way from the spirit of my invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofmy invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adaptit for various applications without omitting features that, from thestandpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics ofthe generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, suchadaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within themeaning and range of equivalence of the followin claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A fastener comprising a pair of flexible strips of resilientmaterial, each strip having a plane portion and an integral reinforcededge portion, the edge portions being of corresponding crosssection butreversed when in overlapping relation, each edge portion having acontinuous solid ridge and a continuous groove arranged longitudinallyof said edge p rtion and substantially at right angles to the planes ofsaid plane portions, the head portion of each ridge being enlarged andthe neck portion of each ridge being constricted to form an adjacentcomplementary groove with a restricted opening thereinto and an enlargedbottom portion, the groove in one of said strips corresponding in shapeto the ridge in the other of said strips and vice versa, the headportion of each of said ridgeshaving an inclined surface providing aportion overhanging the adjacent groove in the same edge portion and theinclined surface of one ridge being in opposed contact with the inclinedsurface of another ridge when the respective edge portions areinter-engaged, the median plane of each of the plane por- ,tions of eachstrip passing through the head portion of the ridge integral therewithoutwardly of its constricted neck portion, whereby said strips can befastened to or separated from each other by a pressure or a pull,respectively, acting substantially at right angles to the planes of saidstrips but cannot be readily separated by a pull acting in oppositedirections in the planes of said strips.

2. A fastener comprising a pair of flexible strips of resilientmaterial, each strip having a plane portion and a reinforced edgeportion, the edge portions being of corresponding cross-section butreversed when in overlapping relation, each edge portion having acontinuous solid ridge and a continuous groove arranged longitudinallyof said edge portion and substantially at right angles to the planes ofsaid strips, the head portion of each ridge being enlarged and the neckportion of each ridge being constricted to form an adjacentcomplementary groove with a restricted opening thereinto and an enlargedbottom portion, the groove in one of said strips corresponding in shapeto the ridge in the other of said strips and vice versa, each ridge Onits side toward its plane portion only having a portion overhanging theadjacent groove in the same strip and provided with an undercut surface,the undercut surface of one ridge being in opposed contact with theundercut surface of another ridge when the respective edge portions areinterengaged, the median plane of each of the plane portions of eachstrip passing through the head portion of the ridge integral therewithoutwardly of its constricted neck portion, whereby said strips can befastened to or separated from each other by a pressure or a pull,respectively, acting substantially at right angles to the planes of saidstrips but cannot be readily separated by a pull acting in oppositedirections in the planes of said strips.

3. A fastener comprising, in combination, two strips of resilientmaterial having overlapping edge portions, and a continuous groove and acontinuous solid ridge arranged in each of said edge portions of saidstrips longitudinally thereof and substantially at right angles to theplanes of said strips, respectively, said groove in one of said stripscorresponding substantially in shape to the ridge in the other of saidstrips and vice versa, the head portion of each ridge being enlarged andthe neck portion of each ridge beingconstricted to form an adjacentcomplementary groove with a restricted opening thereinto and an enlargedbottom portion, said ridges having inclined surfaces between their headportions and neck portions provided with serrations the serrated surfaceof one ridge frictionally engaging with the serrated surface of anotherridge when said fastener is closed, the median plane of each of saidstrips passing through the head portion of the ridgeof the correspondingedge portion outwardly of its constricted neck portion, whereby saidstrips can be fastened to, or separated from, each other by a pressureor a pull, respectively, actin substantially at right angles to theplanes of said strips but the stiffness of the ridges and the frictionbetween the contacting serrated surfaces of the ridges and grooves beingsuch that said strips cannot readily be separated by a pull in oppositedirections in the planes of said strips.

4. A fastener comprising, in combination two flexible strips ofresilient material, each having a plane portion and an integralthickened edge portion, the edge portions overlapping when the fasteneris closed, and a continuous groove and a continuous solid ridge arrangedin each of said edge portions of said strips longitudinally thereof andsubstantially at right angles to the planes of said plane portions,respectively, the head portion of each ridge being enlarged and the neckportion of each ridge being constricted to form an adjacentcomplementary groove with a restricted opening thereinto and an enlargedbottom portion, said groove in one of said strips correspond-- inggeneraly in shape to the ridge in the other of said strips and viceversa, but each groove when the fastener is closed providing a slightlateral clearance between that surface of the groove nearer its planeportion and the surface of the adjacent side of the ridge entering suchgroove,

each ridge on its side toward its plane portion having a portionoverhanging the adjacent groove in the same strip and provided with anundercut surface, the undercut surfaces of the ridges being in opposedcontact with each other when the fastener is closed, the median plane ofeach of the plane portions of each strip passing through the headportion of the ridge integral therewith outwardly of its constrictedneck portion, whereby said strips can be fastened to or separated fromeach other by a pressure or a pull, respectively, acting substantiallyat right angles to the planes of said strips but the stiffness of theridges and the friction between the contacting undercut surfaces of theridges being such that said strips cannot readily be separated by a pullin opposite directions in the planes of said strips.

5. A fastener comprising a pair of flexible strips of resilientmaterial, each strip having a plane portion and an offset reinforcededge portion, said reinforced edge portions being of functionallyidentical cross-section and each having parallel grooves and ridges witha ridge adjacent to and between two grooves and a second ridge along thefree edge, the ridges-and grooves being arranged longitudinaly of saidstrips and substantially at ight angles to the planes of said planeportions, the head portion of each ridge being enlarged and the neckportion of each ridge being constricted to form an adjacentcomplementary groove with a restricted opening thereinto and an enlargedbottom portion, each of said ridges on the side toward its plane portiononly havin an undercut surface joining the head and neck portion of theridge and providing a portion overhanging an adjacent groove in the samestrip, pairs of said undercut surfaces being in opposed substantiallycomplete contact when the respective edge portions are inter-engaged andcontinuations of the planes of said plane portions then lying onopposite sides of said undercut surfaces and including the sametherebetween, the median plane 'of each of said strip plane portionspassing through the head portions of the ridges of the correspondingedge portion outwardly of the constricted neck portions of such ridges,whereby said strips can be fastened to or separated from each other by apressure or a pull, respectively, acting substantially at right anglesto the planes of said plane portions but cannot be readily separated bya pull acting in opposite directions in the planes of said respectiveplane portions.

6. A fastener comprising flexible strips of resilient material, eachstrip having a plane portion and a reinforced edge portion, saidreinforced edge portions being of corresponding cross-section and eachhaving parallel grooves and solid ridges with a ridge between twogrooves and a second ridge along the free edge, the ridges and groovesbeing arranged substantially at right angles to the planes of said planeportions, the head portion of each ridge being enlarged and the neckportion of each ridge being restricted to form an adjacent complementarygroove with a restricted opening thereinto and an enlarged bottomportion, the head and neck portions of each ridge being joined bysloping surfaces having serrations, the sloping serrated surfaces of theridges in one edge portion being in substantially complete contact withthe sloping serrated surfaces of the ridges in the other edge portionwhen the respective edge portions are inter-engaged, the median plane ofeach of said strip plane por- ,ridge when the respective edge portionsare 111 tions passing through the head portions of the ridges of thecorresponding edge portion outwardly of the constricted neck portions ofsuch ridges, whereby said strips. can be fastened to or separated fromeach other by a pressure or a pull, respectively, acting substantiallyat right angles to the planes of said plane portions but cannot bereadily separated by a pull acting in oppositedirections in the planesof said respective plane portions.

7. A fastener comprising a pair of flexible strips, of resilientmaterial, each strip having a plane portion and a reinforced edgeportion, there being a longitudinally extending indentation between'saidplane and reinforced edge portion increasing the flexibilitytherebetween, the edge portions being of corresponding cross-section butreversed when in overlapping relation, each edge portion having aplurality of ridges and grooves arranged substantially at right anglesto the planes of said strips, the head portion of each ridge beingenlarged and the neck portion of each ridge being constricted to form anadjacent complementary groove with a restricted opening thereinto and anenlarged bottom portion, the head portion of each of said ridges havingan inclined surface providin a portion overhanging the adjacent groovein the same edge portion and the inclined surface of one ridge being inopposed 6 contact with the inclined surface of another ter-engaged, aplane joining the plane portions of said strips at their junctions withtheir respective reinforced edge portions when the same areinter-engaged passing through each of the ridges, the median plane ofeach of said strip plane portions passing through the head portions ofthe ridges of the corresponding edge portion outwardly of theconstricted neck portions of such ridges, whereby said strips can befastened to or separated from each other by a pressure or a pull,respectively, acting substantially at right angles to the planes of saidstrips but cannot be readily separated by a pull acting in oppositedirections in the planes of said strips.

8. A fastener comprising, in combination, a pair of flexible strips ofresilient material, each strip having a plane portion and an integralreinforced edge portion, there being a longitudinally extendingindentation between said plane and reinforced edge portion to increasethe flexibility therebetween, the edge portions being of identicalcross-section but reversed when in overlapping relation, each edgeportion havin a plurality of ridges and a plurality of grooves arrangedsubstrips, repectively, the head portion of each ridge being enlargedand the neck portion of each ridge being restricted to form an adjacentcomplementary groove with a restricted opening thereinto and an enlargedbottom portion, each of said ridges being solid and having on the sidetoward its plane portion only an undercut surface joining the head andneck portion of the ridge and providing a portion overhanging anadjacent groove in the same edge portion, pairs of said undercutsurfaces being in opposed contact when the respective edge portions areinter-engaged, the median plane of each of said strip plane portionspassing through the head portions of the ridges of the correspondingedge portion outwardly of the constricted neck portions of such ridges,whereby said strips can be fastened to or separated from each other by apressure or a pull, respectively, acting substantially at right anglesto the planes of said plane portions but cannot be readily separated bya pull acting in opposite directions in the planes of said planeportions.

BORGE IMADSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,959,318 Sundback May 15, 19342,144,755 Freedman Janv 24, 1939 2,353,858 Tedesco July 18, 1944Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,558,367 June 26, 1951 BORGEMADSEN It is hereby certified that the above numbered patent waserroneously issued to F lexico (U. S. A.) S. A., of Tangier, NorthAfrica, a corporation of Tangier, assignee by mesne assignments, Whereassaid patent should have issued to Flemigrz'p, Inc., of New Y 0%, N. Y.,a corporation of New York, assignee by meme assignmems,; and that thesaid Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the samemay conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 16th day of October, A. D. 1951.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Gammz'ssz'oner of Patents.

